Russia Shows Soldiers Training To Shoot Down Drones

This footage reportedly shows Russian troops firing at aerial targets during anti-drone training at a military range.

The footage was obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 26th August and reportedly shows the exercises at one of its ranges in western Russia.

The video shows soldiers tracking targets overhead and opening fire with small arms and twin machine guns from their positions.

The men are contract soldiers, and the training has them working in mobile fire groups of the kind Russia uses against drones at short range.

The Russian MoD claimed in a statement: "Servicemen selected for contract service practised live firing from small arms and twin machine guns at aerial targets at one of the ranges of the Moscow Military District.

"The contract soldiers practised exercises in firing at aerial targets as part of mobile fire groups.

"In addition to firing training, the soldiers are taught tactics of action applicable to various conditions of combat work, such as escorting military equipment and repelling an air raid on facilities.

"In addition to practising special skills, the servicemen practised overcoming low-visibility non-explosive obstacles in small groups, laying anti-tank mines and providing first medical aid for various wounds. Army tactical shooting has been introduced as compulsory for all specialities.

"Because of threats from the sky, the training of specialists in combating an aerial enemy is becoming a priority task, allowing the enemy to be deprived of a presence in the airspace and ensuring the successful completion of combat tasks by our own troops.

"The training and material base of training centres, ranges and terrain sections is constantly being transformed and refined, taking into account the experience of the special military operation and changes in the nature of the enemy's actions.

"Combat coordination of units during training is carried out on the basis of real experience of the tactical tasks and operations performed in specific directions in the zone of the special military operation.

"Weapons and equipment that have proved themselves in the zone of the special military operation are used during combat training, including motorcycle equipment, drones, ground robotic systems and other means.

"When organising the training of assault groups, specialists of the range service form complexes of the objects used by the enemy in the construction of defensive structures.

"The experience gained during combat training exercises and the combat coordination of units makes it possible to successfully carry out real combat tasks in the zone of the special military operation.

"The combat training programme and the teaching literature are constantly updated on the basis of the experience of the special military operation and feedback from the commanders of assault units and formations directly participating in it."

We have not been able to independently verify the images or the statement.

(Joe Golder/Clipzilla/NX)